Means for repacking valves



Nov. 26, 1929. G. F. MERRILL MEANS FOR REPACKING VALVES Filed se t.21, 192v 7 E: A A

I w m w. m a 4 4 8 M u m m l W .mw m A a n W x /,/V r v x w Patented Nov. 26, 1929 UNITED STATES GEORGE F, MERRILL, 0F WARE, MASSACHUSETTS MEANS FOR REPACKING VALVES Application filed September 21, 1927. Serial No. 221,088.

This invention relates to improvements in valves and more particularly to valves located at a distance or in an inaccessible place and to improved means and method of repacking such valves.

This application is carved out of my application on which Patent No. 1,637,026 was granted on July 26, 1927, and was filed after the grant of that patent.

The principal object of the invention is to provide means for repacking a valve located in an inaccessible place or at a considerable distance from the operator.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means of removing the parts of the valve to give access to the packing of the valve without the said parts dropping out from the removing means.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for guiding the pack ing and packing gland to the packing seat.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for removing the parts of the valve and the packing from a distance so that the parts will not only be separated from the valve but may be also brought to the operator without being separated from the removing means.

Another object of the invention is to provide removing means for the parts of the valve and the packing that may be used and operated with the usual commercial forms of valves.

Another object of the invention is to provide power means for removing from a distance parts of the valve that may be tight,

stuck or corroded on the valve.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means on the valve and valve box to facilitate removal from a distance and to facilitate the entrance and removal of the packing and packing gland into and from the packing seat in the valve.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and it will also be apparent that many changes in the construction, arrangement of parts and in the steps of the operation may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the following claims. The prefer-red forms only of the invention have been shown and described by Way of illustration.

Referring to the drawings in which similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a section of pipe showing the valve and valve box located beneath the ground;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through a portion of the valve and valve box;

Fig. 3 is a similar sect-ion to Fig. 2 showing the means for conducting the packing and packing gland to the packing seat valve;

Fig. 4 is an elevation partly in section of the means for removing the retaining nuts on the valve stem;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the packing seat;

Fig. 6 is a cross section on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 1 shows the water pipe arrangement of a hydrant the numeral 1 designating the ground level. The valve 2 is located in a branch 3, and has the valve stem 1 extending thereabove. The valve stem is surrounded by the valve box 5 which terminates at the opening 6 at the ground level 1. The valve packing 7 surrounds the valve stem A and rests the packing seat or recess 8 in the member 9 which is bolted to the cover 10 of the valve body by the bolts 11 and nuts 12. The packing gland 18 extends into the packing recess 8 over the packing 7, being fitted over the valve stem 4 and held in place by the bolts 11 and nuts 14. The valve stem 4: extends above the gland 13 and bears a turnof the ing or valve actuating member 15 having flat sides to engage a socket wrench. The member 15 is non-rotatably mounted on the valve stem 4 by means of a square sided extension 16 on the stem' 4. There is a screw threaded extension 17 on the stem 4 on which is placed the nut 18 to hold the turning mem ber 15 on the stem 4.

In practice the valve stem is operated by a socket wrench fitting over the member 15. This is operated from the opening 6 in the valve box 5, but it has been found that while the valve stem 4 can be operated from the opening 6 to open and close the valve it is impossible to replace the packing 7 in the packing seat 8 Without removing the valve box 5 and digging out an access to the valve from above. This was a laborious, expensive and diflicult operation and it was found that the valves had to be frequently repacked.

In the present invention I have provided an improved structure and an improved method of operation to repack the valves from the opening 6 without removing the valve box.

In my improved device I first provide the nut 18 with an external groove 19. I then provide a socket wrench 20, Fig. 4, having a spring 21 mounted in an opening 22 adapted to enter the groove 19 in the nut 18 to hold it in the socket of the wrench 20 and prevent its falling out. I then remove the nut 18 with the wrench 20 through the opening 6 in the valve box 5. I next remove the turning member 15 through the opening 6 by means of a lifter 23 having the gripping arms 24 pivoted to a holder nut 25, the arms 24 being in turn pivoted to a second set of arms 26 at the points 27. The arms 26 are pivoted at 28 to the tubular sleeve 29 having the handles 30. Through the sleeve 29 extends a threaded rod 31 having a handle 32 and an enlarged end 33 resting on top of the extension 17 and screw threaded into the nut 25. In removing the member 15 the sleeve 29 is drawn upwardly towards the handle 32. This opens out the arms 24, as shown in dotted lines. The arms 24 are dropped down below the member 15, after which the sleeve 29 is pushed down to close the jaws 24 under the member. The sleeve 29 is held against rotation by the handle 30, and the rod 31 is rotated by the handle 32 causing the nut 25 to rise on the threaded part of the rod 29 carrying the arms 24 with it to force the member 15 off of the valve stem 4. The nuts 14 are then removed with the wrench 20 as in the case of the nut 18 and the valve gland 13 is removed with the lifter 23 in the same way the member 15 is removed. The packin 7 is now exposed and may be removed wit a hooked picker, not shown. The valve is now ready for repacking. A rod extension section or mandrel 34 is entered through the opening 6 and rested on top of the extension 17 of the valve stem 4 the said extension secing ring 7 into the seat 8 and an annular packing ring 7, Fig. 3, is slipped on the rod 34 and slid down into the recess 8 of the member 9. The gland 13 is next slid down the rod 34 onto the valve stem 4, the nuts 14 put in place on the bolts 11 and screwed up with the wrench 20, the nut 15 then slipped down onto the valve stem 4 on a rod similar to the rod 34 but smaller in diameter, and the nut 18 put in place on the extension 17 by the wrench 20. To facilitate the entrance of the packing 7 into the recess 8 a funnel shaped lip 35, Fig. 6, is provided around the recess 8. This also facilitates the entrance of the gland 13 into the packing recess.

The bolt holes in the gland 13 and member 9 are countersunk to a taper in the under side to facilitate the entrance of the bolts 11 into the bolt holes as these members are inserted in place.

From the foregoing description of structure and operation it will be seen that I have provided simple, inexpensive and efiicient means for removing and replacing the packing in the packing seat from the opening 6 of the valve box without disturbing the valve box and without removing the same or digging down to the valve, and that all of the removed parts are brought to the surface without loss and the removed parts likewise replaced by guiding and holding means that are simple and efficient.

It will also be seen that with my device and my improved method the usual commercial valves may be repacked from the opening of the valve box with slight alteration of parts and construction.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A tool for use in combination with a valve having a packing ring and an extendmg valve stem, said tool comprising an elongated member adapted to slidably receive the packing ring to be aligned with the extending valve stem for facilitating the return of the packing ring to the valve stem.

2. A .tool for use in combination with a valve, said valve having a packing recess, a packing ring, a packing member and an extending valve stem, said tool comprising an elongated member adapted to slidably receive the packing ring and the packing member,

and to be aligned with the extending valve stem for facilitating the return of the packlng ring and packing member to the valve stem and to the packing recess respectively.

3. A tool for use in combination with a valve having a packing ring and an extending valve stem, said tool comprising an elongated member having terminal means align able with the valve stem and adapted to slidably receive the packing ring for facilitating the return of the packing ring to the valve stem when the elongated member is aligned therewith.

4. A tool for use in combination with a valve having a packing ring and an extending valve stem, said tool comprising an el0ngated member having a recessed terminal portion adapted to fit over the end of the valve stem and to align the elongated memher with the valve stem and adapted to slidably receive the packing ring for facilitating the return of the packing ring to the valve stem when the elongated member is aligned therewith.

GEORGE F. MERRILL. 

